The crowd at the tomb. Not a crowd really, but a small gathering. A bevy of ladies. A group of gals. A mass of Marys. Between the Gospel writers, we compile this list: 

• Mary Magdalene
• Joanna the wife of Cuza who managed Herod’s household 
• Mary the mother of James and Joses 
• Salome the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John 
• Others with them, possibly Mary’s sister/Jesus’ aunt, and Mary the wife of Clopas. Luke (8:3) also mentions Susanna and others who helped financially support Jesus and the disciples during His ministry from their own means. 

The women brought finishing touches to Joseph and Nicodemus’ work from Friday. The men had performed a hasty burial as they fought the setting sun for time: seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes and strip after strip of linen. 

Matthew records the event (emphasis mine):

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

The women came at dark-thirty Easter morning, looking for a corpse. 

They left having seen angels and a risen Savior. 

Why these ladies first? Why not John? Or Peter? Or even Jesus’ mother? 

Because Jesus made room for women. 

In His public ministry. 

At Lazarus’ house. 

At the empty tomb. 

He’s made room for you too. 

Workout of the Week: Crowded: Easter Sunday

Memory Verse: “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” (Matthew 28:8-9)

Meditation Passage: Matthew 28:1-9

Do It: Make room for Him.